Bag with an extensible exterior pocket

ABSTRACT

A carrying bag comprises an exterior pocket suitable for carrying a drink bottle in the exterior pocket which includes a flexible sleeve. A first end of the sleeve is seamed to an inner peripheral adjacent to the aperture of the exterior pocket and the second end of the sleeve includes a drawstring system for controlling the size of the aperture at the second end of the sleeve. The drawstring system comprises a drawstring passage and a drawstring passing the drawstring passage.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to carrying bags such as backpacks, shoulder bags, hand-held bags and the like, that are equipped with an exterior pocket. More specifically, this invention relates to a bag with an exterior pocket including a flexible sleeve joined to the aperture of the exterior pocket, wherein the sleeve can be folded into the exterior pocket while not in use and be drawn out to increase the volume of the exterior pocket so as to receive and carry a drink bottle or the like therein.

2. Description of the Related Art

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 illustrate a typical prior-art backpack 90 equipped with an exterior pocket 92 on a surface 91 of its main peripheral wall. The exterior pocket 92 has an upward aperture and is adapted for receiving and supporting a drink bottle 1 therein. The depth of an exterior pocket of the type as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is normally made far less than the height of a typical small sized dispensable drink bottle (normally made of PET) and that of a regular sized sport water bottle. As a result, the bottle carried in an exterior pocket of this type has a large portion extending out of the exterior pocket and is susceptible to accidentally falling out resulting from certain movement of the bag.

Nevertheless, it is undesirable to make an exterior pocket of this type further deeper as to make accessing to small articles contained therein difficult. Because of this, most known exterior pockets of a backpack, that are adapted for carrying a bottle, are made similar to the exterior pocket 92 illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, not ideal for carrying a drink bottle therein.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a bag with an exterior pocket without the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention, an improved carrying bag is provided of the type having an exterior pocket which includes a flexible sleeve; wherein a first end of the sleeve is seamed to an inner peripheral adjacent to the aperture of the exterior pocket and the second end of the sleeve includes a drawstring system for controlling the size of the aperture at the second end of the sleeve. The drawstring system comprises a drawstring passage and a drawstring disposed therein.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the middle section of the drawstring is confined in the drawstring passage while both end sections of the drawstring extend beyond the drawstring passage. A drawstring stop is coupled to and operable to move along the end sections of the drawstring that extend beyond the drawstring passage. The drawstring stop is preferably of the type loaded with a spring. The spring loaded in the drawstring stop forces the drawstring stop to be in a locked state and holds both end sections of the drawstring immobile relative to the drawstring stop. While the drawstring stop is manually unlocked against the spring, it can be moved along both end sections of the drawstring toward the drawstring passage to reduce the size of the aperture at the second end of the sleeve or away from the drawstring passage to allow opening of the aperture at the second end of the sleeve.

In another embodiment of this invention, the drawstring stop and optionally one and only one end of the drawstring is (are) fixed to the second end of the sleeve. In this case, while the drawstring stop is manually unlocked against the spring, the free end(s) of the drawstring can be pulled away from the drawstring passage to reduce the size of the aperture at the second end of the sleeve or retracted into the drawstring passage to allow opening of the aperture at the second end of the sleeve.

In a preferred embodiment, the drawstring passage is formed with a hem stitched around a peripheral at the second end of the sleeve. In other embodiments, the drawstring passage may be composed of a series of eyelets or rings disposed around a peripheral near the second end of the sleeve.

The main advantage of this invention is that the bag provided includes an exterior pocket equipped with a retractable sleeve therefore when the sleeve is drawn out, an elongated article such as a commonly shaped drink bottle, a folding umbrella or a flashlight can be inserted and removed from the exterior pocket conveniently. And when there is no need to carry such an elongated article in the exterior pocket, the sleeve can be inserted into the exterior pocket so as to keep the appearance of the bag neat.

Another advantage of this invention is that the access aperture of the above-mentioned sleeve is equipped with a drawstring system for closing that access aperture therefore the risk of losing articles contained in the exterior pocket is greatly reduced. For an elongated article such as a commonly shaped drink bottle, a folding umbrella or a flashlight, it means that the article can be completely enclosed in the pocket (with the sleeve extended) or at least that only a small top portion of the article would be left exposed but its circumference can be bound by the drawstring. For smaller and valuable articles if inserted through and sealed with the access aperture of the sleeve, especially when the sleeve along with the drawstring system is also inserted back into the exterior pocket, it means stealing them become much more difficult because it would take much more time and processes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical prior art bag equipped with an exterior pocket adapted for carrying a drink bottle.

FIG. 2 illustrates the bag of FIG. 1 carrying a drink bottle in the exterior pocket.

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded view of a preferred embodiment of a bag in accordance with this invention, wherein the sleeve is separated from the bag.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bag of FIG. 3, wherein the sleeve is inserted into the pocket and is illustrated with dotted lines.

FIG. 5 illustrates the bag of FIG. 3, wherein a drink bottle is carried in the exterior pocket with the sleeve extracted for enclosing the drink bottle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a partially exploded view of a preferred embodiment of a bag 10 in accordance with the present invention. The bag 10 comprises a main body wall 11 and an exterior pocket 20 on the outer surface of the main body wall 11. The exterior pocket 20 further includes a sleeve 30 made of a flexible material. A first end of the sleeve 30 is seamed on an inner circumference of the exterior pocket 20 near the aperture of the exterior pocket 20 (the dotted circle 21 illustrated in FIG. 3 represents the seam line where the sleeve 30 and the exterior pocket 20 are joined, which is at a lower place near the aperture of the exterior pocket 20 and is inside the exterior pocket 20). A drawstring passage 31 is provided at the second end of the sleeve 30. A drawstring 32 is disposed passing the drawstring passage 31. The middle section of the drawstring 32 is confined within the drawstring passage 31 while both end sections of the drawstring 32 extend beyond the drawstring passage 31. A drawstring stop 33 is attached to and operable to move along the end sections of the drawstring 32 that extend beyond the drawstring passage 31.

The drawstring stop 33 is loaded with a spring. The spring loaded in the drawstring stop 33 forces the drawstring stop 33 to be in a locked state and holds both end sections of the drawstring 32 immobile relative to the drawstring stop 33. While the drawstring stop 33 is manually unlocked against the spring, it can be moved along both end sections of the drawstring 32 toward the drawstring passage 31 to reduce the size of the aperture at the second end of the sleeve 30, or away from the drawstring passage 31 to allow opening of the aperture at the second end of the sleeve 30.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bag 10 of FIG. 3, wherein the sleeve 30 is inserted into the exterior pocket 20 and is illustrated with dotted lines which means that the sleeve 30 is invisible from the outside. In this mode, the appearance of the bag 10 is kept neat.

FIG. 5 illustrates the bag 10 of FIG. 3, wherein a drink bottle 1 is carried in the exterior pocket 20 with the sleeve 30 extracted for enclosing the drink bottle 1. 

1. A bag with an extensible exterior pocket comprising: a main body wall; an exterior pocket on the outer surface of said main body wall; a flexible sleeve; and a drawstring system; wherein a first end of said sleeve is seamed on an inner circumference of said exterior pocket near the aperture of said exterior pocket; and said drawstring system is coupled to the second end of said sleeve for closing the access aperture of said sleeve.
 2. The bag with an extensible exterior pocket of claim 1, wherein said drawstring system includes a drawstring passage and a drawstring.
 3. The bag with an extensible exterior pocket of claim 2, wherein said drawstring system further includes a drawstring stop.
 4. The bag with an extensible exterior pocket of claim 3, wherein said drawstring stop is fixed on said second end of said sleeve. 